materials

steps

These homemade needles begin as wooden dowels 1/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter. Use a small saw to customize the length of each pair -- anywhere from 8 to 16 inches.

Put a point on one end of each dowel with a pencil sharpener; smooth wood's surface with fine-gauge sandpaper.Wipe clean with a tack cloth and brush on 2 to 3 coats of fast-drying acrylic paint. Seal with a final coat of butcher's wax to ensure that yarn moves freely along the dowel.

Glue a button in a contrasting color to the flat end of the painted dowel with a dot of epoxy. Include a small skein of wool with your gift.